Bill is undemocratic

Though the events and reactions of the 1997 teachers’ strike in Ontario have been paralleled to the action being taken now, the powers granted in Bill 115 are truly something that we will not get over.

The Putting Students First Act is being touted by the Liberal government as a cost-cutting measure that allows it to meet provincial fiscal goals. And while the clauses regarding wage freezes and cutting sick days make sense — and are supported by both the unions and the teachers — there are significant clauses in the bill that seem unwarranted.

I won’t go as far as to say they are “draconian.” I’m not prone to the flowery words of impassioned English teachers. But as a unionized worker myself, I would want to be protected by the Human Rights Code, which, by the way, the union no longer has right to invoke while questioning decisions made under Bill 115.

The precedent this sets for the government is ridiculous. It provides absolutely no accountability for the decisions of the Education Minister and is undemocratic. How long until this kind of legislation is laid down for other public, and then private sector unions?

I’m sure if the bill is repealed, the government can go back to dealing with what they truly should be working on — the deficit in our debt-laden province.